Morocco and other Mediterranean countries members of the Association of Mediterranean Energy Regulators (MEDREG), reviewed measures that incentivize investments in cross-border interconnectivity and energy infrastructures during MEDREG’s fourth workshop, held on June 12-13 in Selinunte, Italy.
Abdellatif Bardach, head of the National Electricity Regulatory Authority (ANRE), chaired this session of MEDREG Presidents.
The nations bordering the Mediterranean Sea are already linked by an interconnected energy system made up of electricity grids, natural gas pipelines, and renewable energy initiatives.
However, the changing geopolitical landscape and the introduction of new technologies have changed energy dynamics, putting North African and Middle Eastern countries at the heart of Euro-Mediterranean energy flows and necessitating increased cooperation and interoperability.
Opening the workshop, Bardach stated that “amidst the evolving dynamics of the global energy landscape, today marks an important moment in our commitment to reshaping energy dialogues. As we gather to address both present and future challenges, our focus extends to enhancing interconnected infrastructures and advancing the integration of energy systems in the mediterranean region and beyond.”
He added that the conversations encompass more than just current difficulties, but also about creating a durable framework for future generations, and that Member Countries are dedicated to a common vision that transcends regional boundaries, enabling vigorous and meaningful global dialogue.
Italian Minister of the Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, underlined that “the Mediterranean Sea is gaining an increasingly central role in the global energy scenario […] The common goal is to foster energy cooperation among the Mediterranean countries and achieve a socially equitable energy transition that leaves no one behind.”
Insufficient or old infrastructure, large investment demands, technological impediments, and varied rules and regulations are all factors contributing to the problems of harvesting the energy complementarities between the northern and southern coastlines.
Addressing these difficulties would necessitate joint efforts from Mediterranean energy stakeholders.
Participants investigated novel business models, financing mechanisms, and strategies for renewable energy implementation in these remote places.
Improving regional collaboration, investing in modern infrastructure, implementing convergent legislation, and encouraging sustainable energy practices at the regional level have emerged as critical measures toward a more robust and integrated Mediterranean energy market.